The BLTS Archive-The Observer Effect
by DataLaur (datalaur@yahoo.com)

---

Disclaimer:  Paramount owns Star Trek.  That which is not Paramount’s
is mine.

Notes:   Told in third person POV, which is why it isn't part of Deux
(a first-person story).

Feedback:  Any and all comments wanted, especially constructive
criticism.  Be as blunt as you like.  Ok to post comments or if you
prefer, email me directly at datalaur@crosswinds.net .

Thanks:  To Quoth, who feeds my fanfic addictions with one tasty
morsel after another.

---

Catching a motion out of the corner of his eye, Bruce Maddox glanced
to his right.  His gaze lingered over Data for a long moment, his 
intent expression softening to a dreamy smile as he remembered the 
night before.

Sometimes he still found it hard to believe that Data wanted him.
Despite LaForge's vindictive accusations, despite the constant
pressure of disapproval from Data's friends -- LaForge naturally being 
the most obnoxious -- somehow, none of it had made the android change 
his mind.

At the thought of the engineer, Bruce's eyes narrowed.  They'd hated
each other for years and recent events had only sharpened the
conflict.  Even though Bruce had been glad, for his own reasons, that
LaForge had accompanied him and Data back to Daystrom, having the
three of them working together in one laboratory made for a very tense
situation.

//At least that jerk's out of my face for the day,// Bruce thought
with satisfaction.  //And I've got Data all to myself.//  He started 
to smile again, thinking about the upcoming evening.

Then, recalling all the work he hoped to accomplish before the
suspicious, carping engineer returned, Bruce sobered up.  He bent over
the microscanner, determined to find a way to 'repair' the tiny
replica of Data's emotion chip.  He probed at the replica with great
care. With his right hand practically useless after the accident, he
couldn't afford any distraction; using his left hand had become more
natural, but such delicate work still required conscious effort.

Data smiled secretively, not looking up from the repairs on one of
Lore's components.  He knew that Bruce had been looking at him.  He
had not seen him, or heard him, he just... knew, somehow.  It was a 
new sensation, this knowledge, and definitely a pleasant one.

Four-point-seven minutes later, Data heard Bruce sigh.  There was a
soft click as the cyberneticist set the fine-tipped tool down on the
worktable.

Seemingly oblivious, Data continued working on his own project.  He
could feel the heat of the other man's gaze; the warm awareness of
Bruce's presence spurred another sort of warmth, this one lower down.

Still, Data pretended to be unaware of the man beside him, though he
could hear every breath, every thudding heartbeat.  Listening
carefully, he fancied that he heard the tiny noise of eyelashes
fluttering with each blink.  The corners of Data's mouth quirked up
the tiniest bit when he heard Bruce blow out a deep breath, and then 
shift in his seat.

Watching Data work, Bruce told himself that he was an idiot.  How
could he allow Data's mere presence to ruin his concentration?  It was
utterly ridiculous, this hormonal reaction.  Biting his lip hard to
distract himself from other physical sensations, he squeezed his eyes
shut for a moment.

//You are thinking about this chip,// the cyberneticist told himself
firmly.  //Now, why is the neuroelectrical resistance level up 6%?//
He bent over the microscanner again, laying out the possibilities in
his mind.

Data calmly allowed part of his brain to concentrate on the task at
hand, leaving the rest of his mind free to do whatever it pleased.
Including personal amusement.   Deliberately sighing softly, at just
the right volume to get someone's attention, the android pretended to
push an errant strand of hair off his forehead.  He wondered what
Bruce would think, or if he would see it.

//Oh, you are totally pathetic,// Bruce castigated himself, realizing
that his gaze had strayed back.  Data was looking particularly sexy in
an absent-minded sort of way, as he brushed a hair out of his face.
//No more self-control than a lovestruck teenager, for god's sake!  As
if you hadn't gotten your fill of him last night!//  Except, now that
Bruce thought about it, he hadn't.

Data smiled internally, hearing the increased breathing and heart
rate.  Yes, he had achieved the desired effect once again.  It had
been an amazing discovery that the smallest thing he did could affect 
his lover to such an extent.  He was like a child with a new toy, 
playing carefully but endlessly with this new knowledge, feeling 
important and needed every time Bruce responded to him.  It was 
incredible to know he mattered that much to someone, after so many 
years of being alone.  He had had close friends on the _Enterprise_, 
but there was no one who loved him.  No one who needed him.  Not like 
Bruce did.

//Now you just stop it,// Bruce warned his lower anatomy, which was
unrepentantly demanding attention.   //I've got to figure this out.
Now, why aren't the readings consistent…//

Using a pair of cushioned tweezers, the cyberneticist gently turned
the bit of circuitry.  He cursed under his breath when he realized 
that he'd hooked up one of the test connections improperly.  Of course 
the readings were going to be skewed!  With a mix of impatience and
extreme care, he stripped off the miniscule connectors and 
systematically laid out each, determined to start over.  Properly, 
this time.

Hearing the muffled curses, Data divined that something had gone
amiss.  He turned a little, before his grin could give him away.
Softly, he started humming, an old love song from Earth.  He wondered
if Bruce would recognize it.

Evidently not.  Still, Bruce was listening to him intently so Data
continued to hum the gentle, haunting tune.  Although he was keenly
aware of his surroundings, Data  deliberately fostered the impression
that he was concentrating on his work.

Some part of Bruce's brain started wondering how it would feel if Data
were to hum like that, while his mouth was on him...  Catching
himself, Bruce rolled his eyes heavenward.  Given that he'd had more 
sex in the last few weeks than he'd had in the last decade, it was 
disconcerting to find out that his libido was unabated; quite the 
opposite, in fact. Worse, it seemed stubbornly independent of the 
times he deemed appropriate.

And those times certainly did not include 0945 on a Tuesday morning,
Bruce reminded himself sternly.  Certainly not when he was supposed to
be finding a way to repair Data's emotion chip.   Compressing his lips
tightly, Bruce buckled down again.

Detecting the increase in pheromones, Data had to struggle to keep
back his laughter.  Oh yes, now he understood the almost perverse 
pleasure of simultaneously tormenting and arousing someone.  He 
decided to see just how far he could manage to arouse his new lover 
without touching him or speaking to him, or even looking at him until 
the end.  No contact, not even eye contact.

//An interesting experiment, and an enjoyable one,// Data thought,
allowing a slight smile to appear on his face while inwardly
cataloguing all Bruce's reactions.  The song finished, he began
another after a short pause, this one slightly more impassioned.

//Damn him anyway,// Bruce thought grumpily.  //He's probably almost
finished and here I am, not getting a rotten thing done.//

Then he started to worry again about his lack of progress.  'No
wonder,' he imagined Data thinking, 'No wonder Bruce has not yet
devised a way to repair my chip.  It takes him forever to set up a
simple circuit diagnostic.  Perhaps Geordi is right.  Perhaps having
Bruce work on my chip is not such a good idea.'  Bruce didn't even
want to think about how eager LaForge would be to fuel Data's doubts.  
He simply had to solve the problem of the chip, and fast.

The cyberneticist stared at the scanner-enhanced partial map of the
damaged chip's pathways, trying to puzzle out the design by sheer
force of will.  It didn't work any better than it had before.  He 
needed a leap of intuition; he needed to think like Soong.  He rubbed 
his good hand across his face, trying to come up with something.

Minutes passed and nothing was coming to mind.  Not a damn thing.
Worse, his mind kept wandering back to inopportune thoughts about
Data.  Finally, disgusted with himself, Bruce pushed away from the
scanner.

Inwardly, Data checked off the small victory when he saw Bruce abandon
the pretense of work.  As Bruce got to his feet, Data felt a shiver of
anticipation.  He had found that he loved the cyberneticist's habit of
coming up behind him and nuzzling at the side of his neck.  Data's
eyes closed for a moment as he remembered how good the soft, warm lips 
and gentle teeth felt against his skin.

Stiff from sitting so long, Bruce's reconstructed hip muscles
protested the sudden change to standing.  Gritting his teeth against 
the discomfort, Bruce leaned back against the worktable, stretching
carefully.

//It's been a long morning,// he thought.  //Maybe it wouldn't be a
bad thing to take a short break.  Hey, maybe Data would like a break
too…//

Bruce almost said something, but when he saw that Data was totally
engrossed in his repair efforts, he realized his libido's subterfuge.
Gritting his teeth again, but for a different reason, Bruce turned and
limped over to the replicator on the other side of the room.  Feeling
unsettled and unhappy, as well as unpleasantly aroused, he brusquely
ordered a large coffee.

Deciding that he simply needed to remove himself from the distraction,
the cyberneticist took his coffee over to the far side of his
laboratory.  Seating himself near the large piece of equipment that
they'd planned to use once LaForge got back in the morning, Bruce
began making the necessary preparations.

Data felt more than a little disappointed when he saw how absorbed
Bruce was in preparing the neuroanalyzer.  This was not his first
experience with deflation of the ego, but experience was slowly
teaching him that it never grew any more pleasant or easy to accept.

Long minutes passed in the silent laboratory.

When he caught himself staring at Data yet again, Bruce finally
admitted that his attempts to ignore his lover were an exercise in
futility.  Making another strategic retreat, he decided that he could
at least make some observations, even if he couldn't get any other
useful work done.

Soon Data could feel that he was being watched.  Perhaps he had been
premature in terminating the experiment.  Deliberately, the android
ran a hand through his hair, so that some of it fell over his forehead 
-- Bruce always seemed to take delight in releasing his hair from its
usual neatly-combed state.  Perhaps Bruce would like what he saw, Data
thought, bending to his task so that the hair fell softly across his
forehead and eyebrows, almost obscuring his eyes, but not quite.  Just
enough for him to be able to see his work.  Just enough for Bruce to
see his eyes, as well.

//Hmmm,// Bruce noted.  //Interesting mannerism Data's picked up,
combing his fingers through his hair like that.//

Abandoning the neuroanalyzer, he quietly changed seats to get a
profile view of Data.  Actually, Bruce reflected, he had been 
neglecting his behavioral analysis lately.

Puzzling for a moment as to why Bruce had moved yet again, Data had to
stop himself from calling out in triumph when he realized that Bruce
was watching him intently.  The cyberneticist's earlier behavior had
obviously been an attempt at self-distraction.  A failed attempt.
Data prevented himself from smiling by gently biting his lip, then
continued with his work.

//Now there, that's a new one!// Bruce thought excitedly as he
observed Data biting his lip.  He swung around quickly to tap on the 
nearby computer console.  In less than a minute, he had a PADD 
configured to gather formatted input for his main behavioral analysis 
program. Taking his eyes off Data as little as possible, he began 
making detailed notes.

Then, as if pondering some course of action, Data tapped a finger
gently on his lower lip as he gazed at the component before him.

Bruce was totally enthralled by the novel behavior.  //Must get
holorecorders installed!  I can't believe I've been so negligent!  God
only knows what I've missed!//

Turning back to the computer console and calling up the supply menu,
Bruce quickly requisitioned the necessary equipment and sent off a
request for priority installation.  Rubbing his forehead, he thought
for a moment, trying to remember the facilities manager's assistant's
name so he could schmooze her into scheduling the project a little
sooner.  Then, pushing her out of his mind, he started watching Data
again.

The part of Data's positronic brain that was working on the repairs
told him that he needed a certain tool.  Automatically, Data started
to reach over and grab it, before changing his mind and rising from 
his seat to fetch the required object.  Gracefully seating himself 
again, he tossed his head a little, partly to get his hair out of the 
way, and partly for his lover's benefit.

Data continued to work, letting the soft chocolate-brown strands slip
back down, section by section, until the hair was down around his face
as before.  He was pleased he had put so much work into studying human
behavioral movements.  The emotion chip seemed to make it so much
easier, telling him what looked natural and what did not... what felt
natural and what did not.

//Damn!// Bruce thought, //This is incredible!  Movement perfectly
smooth, perfectly natural...  old Soong would flip if he saw Data move
like that!//  The coffee sat on the worktable beside him, cooling and
forgotten.

Hiding a grin, Data realized that Bruce was studying him, recording
his movements and gestures.   //Well,// he acknowledged, //I was 
studying him.  Fair is fair.//

Closing his eyes for a moment, as if to block out any further
distractions, Data tilted his head back in a movement he had observed
in humans for years and had practiced for months in privacy in order
to seem natural.  Hair settled wherever gravity took it, and Data
realized that although it was not practical, having his ever-so-
slightly-longer hair loosened was indeed a nice 'feeling'.  He mused 
that perhaps it looked as nice as it felt.  Perhaps that was the 
reason Bruce liked it so much.

Bruce was practically beside himself with excitement.  Data was
leaning back his head and relaxing!  Simulating stretching tense neck
muscles!!  Incorporation of muscles that would have, for a human,
knotted up from the extended intense work!  It was simply amazing that
Data had acquired such a complex mannerism, had incorporated it in an
appropriate context.  And yet, since the chip, Data had shown an
increasing number of--

As Data slowly twisted his head from side to side, the graceful arch
of the exposed throat caught Bruce's eye.  Had the cyberneticist's 
heart not been an artificial implant, it would have skipped a beat.

Letting his lips part very slightly, Data remained still for a moment
before slowly lowering his head and allowing his eyes to flutter open
before returning to his work.  Keeping his hearing focused on Bruce,
he heard Bruce on the verge of hyperventilating.  Amusement warred 
with concern.  He debated whether or not to keep the experiment going; 
Data knew that his lover was an overly tense person and that once 
Bruce was wound up -- something that Geordi delighted in doing -- 
getting him to relax was often a lengthy process.

After using his senses of hearing and smell carefully, however, Data
decided that Bruce was not reacting badly but was instead
demonstrating signs of extreme arousal.  He chose to continue with his 
line of indirect seduction, wondering how long it would be until his 
lover took the bait.

//Not rough bites, never, no, not on that tender golden skin,// Bruce
thought dreamily.   //Only little tiny nibbles and nips... and then
little licks, mmm, under his jawline, down to the hollow of his
throat…//  He imagined himself pushing aside a silken shirt, exposing
Data's chest, and then those wonderfully sleek, strong shoulders…

Risking a quick sidewards glance, Data smiled to see that Bruce's eyes
were closed, his left hand sliding unconsciously across his shoulder
and down across his chest, imagining... what?  Data did not know yet.
Yet.

Bruce was caught up in the fantasy, imagining his lips trailing upward
along that jaw, up behind that perfect ear, nibbling at it, whispering
in it while he rubbed his body so slowly against Data's... slipping a
leg between Data's... rocking against the bare golden skin.  Slipping
his hands around those slim, perfect hips, that incredible ass,
pulling it against him so he could...

With a guilty start, Bruce remembered where he was.  He sat up
straight in his chair and distractedly raked his own dark hair into a 
mess. After picking up the PADD and setting it down almost 
immediately, Bruce reached for his coffee, hoping to calm his rattled 
nerves.

//Ugh, cold,// he reacted and set it aside with a convulsive shudder.
//Must do something about that.  Yes, think about that, about anything
other than Data... oh, dear heavens, he's humming again...//

Data still sat in profile to Bruce, and now he decided to risk
something slightly less subtle.  Instead of humming, he let the notes
thrum directly from his throat in an almost velvet purr, a continuous
sound that vibrated ever so slightly.  He noted with no little
amusement that Bruce had rumpled his own hair in a fit of nervous
distraction.

Wondering if his lover knew that he had actually picked up that
particular mannerism from him, Data decided to imitate yet another one
of Bruce's habits.  He sat back just a little, tilted his head a
little to the side, and used his left hand to gently massage his 
shoulder, allowing his eyes to close again and a soft sound of 
contentment and relief to escape him, as if a painful muscle was being 
relieved of its strain.  It was one Bruce employed often, usually when 
he had been concentrating too intently.  Not that Data minded 
massaging his back after work, coaxing the tense muscles to a relaxed 
state, kissing the tired eyes...

Bruce paused halfway to the replicator, mouth hanging partly open, as
he caught the motion.  At that instant, he would have killed for a
holorecorder.

Seconds later, belatedly realizing that Data had settled back down to
work, Bruce tried to act nonchalant as he made his way to the wall
unit and ordered more coffee,  Breezily humming a few bars as cover, 
then abruptly cutting off when he realized it might distract Data, 
Bruce pretended to be relaxing by the replicator.  In truth. he was 
watching the android's reflection in the shiny black surface.  He 
stood there with his back to Data, sipping carefully at the cup of 
steaming coffee, watching avidly.

Again brushing a strand of hair out of his face, Data continued to
work on the circuit in front of him, setting the tiny, delicate 
connections in place neatly and efficiently.

Bruce watched the reflection intently, admiring the speed and delicacy
of Data's fingers and most definitely not thinking of what those
fingers would feel like...

//Damn.//

Feigning a casualness he didn't feel, Bruce turned and sidled sideways
along the back row of equipment, hoping to catch Data from a different
perspective.  Halfway there, he remembered the PADD.  Feeling the
fool, he went back for it and then found himself a new observation 
point.

Inwardly the android smiled, as he decided to break out yet more of
his newfound talent and merge it with long-learned skills.  Data rose,
walking with deliberate grace to the replicator.  He programmed in a
request for several delicate circuit components, then half-turned away
with the tray in hand.

Pausing, Data turned back, tone of voice carefully calculated to sound
like an afterthought.  "Oh, and one cup of Tulirian spice tea,
please."  He casually glanced towards Bruce.

The cyberneticist hurriedly choked down a swallow of hot coffee,
scorching his throat in the process.  Then he pretended to be
engrossed in entering data onto on his PADD.  In truth, he was 
fervently hoping that Data hadn't seen him checking out his ass.

Data walked slowly back to his chair, holding the tray of new
components in one hand and the cup in the other.  As he had seen his
colleagues do, he took measured sips from his cup at strategic points.

Feeling vaguely disappointed, having half-hoped that Data would come
over, Bruce sighed and began tidying up his rushed entries.  It was
just as well; he couldn't think of a thing to have said if Data had
asked what he was working on.

Setting the newly-replicated components aside for the moment, Data
moved over to Bruce's original seat and began to 'inspect' the replica
emotion chip through the microscanner.  Leaning forward, he was keenly
aware that Bruce was watching him closely.  Data thought with a secret
smile that he needed only hold the position for a few seconds...
anything more would look suspicious.

//Oh, SHIT,// Bruce thought in a panic, yanking his eyes from Data's
invitingly positioned posterior.  //He'll see I haven't gotten
anything done!//

"Um...." the cyberneticist cleared his throat nervously, "Uh, Data?
I'll get back to that in a bit."

Data decided to risk a glance over his shoulder; perhaps it would not
hurt to modify the experiment's parameters just a little.  Bruce had
broken the silence first, after all.  "Certainly, Bruce. Whenever you
prefer."

Slowly straightening, Data resumed his seat, again taking a few
measured sips from his cup. He let his tongue flicker out to catch a
droplet he'd deliberately left on his lips, licking them slowly, as if
savoring the tea.  Which part of him actually was -- it tasted 'good'.

"I was just... oh."  Goggling at the sight of Data licking his lips,
Bruce stammered, "I, I mean, I was just busy with... something."

"Of course," Data said calmly.  "You can work on the chip whenever you
like."

"I will.  I mean, I know it's important."  Realizing that he was
babbling, Bruce sat down quickly and pretended great interest in his
coffee.   He couldn't quite keep his eyes off Data, who was sipping
his tea in a leisurely fashion.

It took less than a minute before the cyberneticist couldn’t take the
silence.  Before  Data got involved again with his work, Bruce wanted
to talk for a few minutes.  There wasn't anything wrong with that.  He
wasn't going to go near Data, after all.  Just talk.  And then get
right back to work.

"So... how are you doing?" Bruce said with a nervous laugh.

"I am currently taking a short 'break'.  I find it to be a most
pleasant experience."  Again, Data barely touched his tongue to his
lips; the fact that he was enjoying the hot, sweetly spicy liquid was
obvious.

"How's that stuff?"  For the life of him, Bruce couldn't remember what
Data had ordered.  It smelled good, in a spicy sort of way.  "Smells
nice."  With an unpleasant jolt, Bruce found himself standing in front
of Data.  Somehow his feet weren't listening any better than his dick
had.

"The Tulirian spice tea?  It is quite flavorsome, but not
overpoweringly so."

Bruce found himself perversely hoping that Data would offer him a
taste.  Which was odd, because he had always hated when people wanted
to try his food, or something he was drinking.  And it was always sort
of an obligation with family; his ex-wife had expected it, but really,
it was awful because then her lipstick would get on his cup or his
fork and just ruin everything...

"Would you like to try some?"  Data held the cup out.

"Huh?  Oh, oh, uh, yeah."  The cyberneticist smiled nervously.
Tucking the PADD carefully under his disabled arm, he reached out with 
his left hand.  Bruce took a quick sip, barely tasting it as those 
golden eyes held his, feeling more flustered than ever.

Data raised an eyebrow.  "Do you like it?" he asked in his most
innocent tone of voice, blinking a little and tilting his head in his
usual birdlike manner, allowing his hair to continue its unimpeded
movement over his face.

It was good, Bruce noticed distantly.  "Oh, it's very tasty.  I'll
have to have some later."  He realized he'd forgotten what it was 
called.

Nodding calmly, Data went back to his worktable and sat back down,
deliberately leaving Bruce holding the cup, wondering what he'd do
with it.  He was very aware of being followed.  He smiled as the
cyberneticist sat down next to him.

Feeling the need to validate himself by asking something technical,
Bruce leaned against the table edge, looking down at Data, holding the
forgotten teacup.

"Data, how much longer do you think it's going to take to get the
emnion function working?"

"I am not sure.  It should be responding now, and yet it is not. There
is no damage, and no fault in the connections that I can ascertain."

Shaking his head slowly, Bruce said, "I don't know why it won't work
consistently."  He sighed; the intermittent problem had frustrated him
for months.  Then he shrugged.  "Maybe it's just temperamental."  He
smiled, hoping that Data would find the subjective term amusing when
applied to equipment.

Data sighed, not for show this time, and brushed his hand through his
hair yet again. "Yes, Lore was certainly that.  However, I fail to see
why his circuitry would be, once he was disassembled."

Bruce's grin broadened.  What a sense of humor Data had turned out to
have.  "You're more than your circuits.  Why shouldn't Lore have
imbued his with something more, too?"

Deliberately tilting his head so that he was looking up into his
lover's face, Data said plaintively. "That may be, but that means that
even disassembled, he manages to make things difficult."

Bruce escaped his gaze by focusing on setting down the tea without
spilling it.  "Well, that's certainly a more palatable explanation
than simply blaming it on ourselves.  Though I don't think I'll try to 
use that excuse with the Admiral."  He smiled wryly.  "But it's true, 
I've never had such trouble repairing anything as I have had with 
Lore."

"Perhaps there is more of my brother in his individual components than
we realize.  I wonder what there would be, if this theory holds true,
in my own components?"

"I trust you won't be hasty in giving me the opportunity to find out."
It was said lightly, but there was an anxious undertone.

"No.  I am quite interested in remaining intact, thank you."

Bruce managed a small smile.  "That's a relief.  I'd never want you to
think I was trying to get into your circuitry."

Data had to stop himself from laughing outright at Bruce's unintended
double entendre.  Instead, he closed his eyes again and tilted his
head back, thinking deeply.

"What?" Bruce asked, wondering what he had said wrong.  "Oh... I
didn't mean it that way!"

Opening one eye a fraction, Data raised an eyebrow. "No?  I am
disappointed."   //And that, Bruce, is the only clue you will receive
from me,// Data decided, as he turned back to his work and started to
hum again.

//Why does he always do that?// Bruce thought despairingly.  //He
drops what looks or sounds like a hint, and then he just leaves it 
hanging there.//

Probably it wasn't a hint, and Bruce didn't want to overreact.  It was
bad enough that being around Data constantly turned him on; he
certainly didn't want Data to think that sex was all he wanted.  It
was a pretty quandary, that was for sure.  How could he show Data that 
he loved him in more than a physical way, when the wretchedly 
wonderful physical aspects kept grabbing his body's attention?

Bruce settled for, "Data, you know I want all of you, circuitry and
otherwise."

Smiling and looking straight into his lover's eyes, Data said softly
and sincerely, "Yes, I know."

//Uh-oh,// Bruce thought with alarm.  Now Data was looking at him with
that wide-eyed look, that tiny half-smile, and he was seriously
tempted to simply grab Data and kiss him like crazy.  No, wait, he 
couldn't do that, not here; he was simply going to have to wait until 
they went home.

Humor seemed the most likely way to divert Data's incendiary gaze.
"I'd love you even if you were old and rusty scrap.  Maybe with a few
burnt-out servos as well."

Data pretended to look hurt.  "Old and rusty scrap?  Burnt-out
servos?"  Indignation colored the android's tone, and his body
language radiated insult and hurt feelings. Data decided to try his 
new mannerism in full.  Pouting like any child, he crossed his arms 
and pretended to sulk. He wondered if the pout looked sexy or merely
ridiculous.  Tastes on that front seemed to vary wildly among humans.

Bruce couldn't help but laugh.  "Oh, you've got that expression down
pat.  Will you let me make it up to you?"

//Ah.  Ridiculous, then.//  Still, Bruce seemed to enjoy playing this
game, so Data decided to continue.  In a sulky voice, he said, "Maybe
I
will, and maybe I will not.  It depends."

Trying very hard not to smile, Bruce said, "Oh, I am sorry.  Really."
He knelt down at the side of the chair where Data was sitting, so he
could look the android in the eye.  "I didn't mean to hurt your
feelings, you know.  What can I do to apologize properly?"

"A kiss would be nice," Data said plaintively, smiling just a little.

Making no answer, Bruce simply leaned forward and brushed his lips
against Data's.  His intentions of making it a quick, chaste kiss fell
by the wayside somewhere within the first second.

//Finally!// Data could not help but think as he returned the kiss,
slowly at first, as if still sulky and unsure.  Then he slowly took
control of the kiss, deepening it before slowly pulling away.

"Mmmm," Bruce said breathlessly, his eyes shining.  Continuing the
teasing, he said, "You know, I ought to run some tests on you later
tonight.  I think you might be getting a short.  See, I'm getting this
tingly feeling when you kiss me."  He touched a fingertip to his own
lip.

Data raised his eyebrows.  "It sounds serious.  I suggest that we
carry out those tests immediately."

Bruce backpedaled frantically.  "Now?  It's not even lunchtime.  We
can't just take off for the rest of the day!"  He stood up, a little
awkwardly.  Unconsciously tugging one-handedly at his uniform, the
cyberneticist said in a scandalized tone, "Really, Data.  We're on
duty!  We have to maintain some sort of decorum, you know.  And
there's a lot of work…"

Data stood up, putting Bruce between himself and the worktable.   "I
know.  I just find myself not particularly caring about any of those
things at this precise moment."  He took a step closer.  "Do you?"

Bruce couldn't seem to get anything intelligible to leave his mouth.
Badly flustered, he fumbled for his PADD and wound up dropping it with
a clatter.

Data turned away suddenly, sitting back down and taking his tools in
hand.  "You are right.  It would not be proper conduct."

Unnerved by Data's sudden agreement, Bruce found his voice.   "Well,
maybe it wouldn't be so bad..."  With a start, the cyberneticist
realized how that sounded.  "I, I didn't mean it like that!  I just
meant, well, after all, it is research... sort of…  and I don't have
any meetings or anything scheduled for the afternoon… well, therapy,
but I could go later…"

"'Close enough', I believe, is the expression."  Data smiled a little
more broadly now.  He stood up and cupped Bruce's chin briefly before
sliding his hand down along his throat.  Leaning closer, Data let his
tongue trace along Bruce's ear, before beginning to nibble on it.

"Data, we can't!  Not here... ohhh, Data…"  Too late; his body was
already reacting predictably, making demands that were growing more
strident with every second.

Data pulled his lover in for a passionate kiss. He could feel the
precise moment when the other man gave in to what was happening.

Fumbling with the closure of his lover's jacket, Bruce managed to drag
his lips away long enough to gasp, "Computer, privacy lock.  Maddox-
nine-delta-alpha-theta-alpha."

Data gave a purr of satisfaction, his experiment complete.

---

The End